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“I’m a goofy smarty pants. But I’m also loving and sensitive. I’m from Los Angeles. I grew up in South Central and moved to Inglewood when I was in the 7th grade.

I’m an early riser, so I typically wake up between 5:30 and 6:30 depending on my day. The first thing I do is thank the Lord. I’ll do a 20 to 30 minute work out, shower and dress for work, juice some fruits and vegetables and prepare snacks for my day. Then I am off to work. My work day starts around 7:30 and ends about 9 o’clock. Once I get home from my salon, I like to decompress by writing in my gratitude journal or reading.

I am so basic when it comes to make up. I keep a simple eyeliner and mascara in my purse. I have three lip colors and a few basic eye shadow colors at home. When I really need make up, I call on friends who do it professionally. My goal in the new year is to increase my make up options. My friends continue to tease me, so I’ve promised to do better.

For my skin and overall health, I drink at least half a gallon of water a day, and when I don’t, my skin will let me know. I wash my face with SheaMoisture African Black Soap and I moisturize with Philosophy Hope in a Jar. It moisturizes your skin. It’s also an exfoliant and help to fade any discoloration. I wash my face every morning and before I go to bed. At night I use Neutrogena Oil Free Triple Action Toner. Its some type of oil cleanser.

My hair has been natural my whole life. I love the way it enhances my beauty and the freedom I have with it. I can stay active, shampoo my hair as frequently as necessary, sleep on it and get up and go without doing a thing. My mother never gave me a relaxer. She was the perfect example for me growing up. She wore her hair in a short cut natural until I was in 2nd grade, then she loc’d her hair. She wore locs until she passed in 2006. I received the occasional press and curl for Easter growing up, then in my 10th grade year of high school I decided to never press my hair again.

When I need some serious detox, I shampoo my hair with Eden Bodyworks Peppermint Tea Tree Shampoo or Gabel’s Lemon Fluff Shampoo. It’s an old school solid cream shampoo. Then I follow up with Biolage by Matrix Hydratherapie Hydrating Shampoo for moisture or SheaMoisture Moisture Retention Shampoo. Because I have locs, I don’t deep condition but on occasion I will do a hot oil treatment using Carol’s Daughter Lisa’s Hair Elixir Restoring Hair Oil. My mantra is cleanse, moisturize and lubricate. For regular moisture I spray a daily moisturizer from my hair care line that I will be releasing soon.

There are some women who feel like they can’t be chic and professional with natural hair, or even attractive enough and I’d encourage women struggling with this to find a specialist who can help them find a hair style that fits their personality and lifestyle. There are plenty of pictures online of more black women in the media who are wearing natural styles. Google images of black women in business with natural hair, and if you are still at a loss, just tune in to Melissa Harris-Perry on Sundays and see how its done on a grand scale. She is intelligent, out spoken, articulate, beautiful, classy, chic, has her own show and she’s rocking braids! Now put that in your cup and drink it! We are more than pretty enough. You are more than pretty enough. God knew what he was doing when He created that face with that head of hair, and by loving it, you are loving one of God’s most special creations, you.

I have my PhD in Trichology, I own my own salon, Mahogany Hair Revolution, and I recently co-authored a children’s book called “My Hair Grows Up, with my sister Carol. I’ve always been an over-achiever and perfectionist, but I also have always had a grand imagination and knew I was going to be someone who touches the lives of others in a special way. In 10 years I will be the most sought after hair care expert and educator in the world and I plan to launch a hair care line, publish more books, and establish an educational institute as well as multiple salon locations. I’d also like to host seminars that inspire future leaders to do the same.

The butterflies will always be there, but when it comes to the fear of failure, I think you have to push through your fear and anxiety and activate your faith. Success takes time, hard work and sacrifice. Surround yourself with positive people and positive things because stepping into the unknown is scary and negativity will push your towards giving up. Most importantly, write down your plan, your goals and your vision. In the perfect season and in God’s perfect time it will manifest.

As women, we have to make time for the things we want. We have to prioritize and plan. Success is about balance and it looks different for everyone, but however it looks to you, make sure you are balanced. It makes you a more pleasant person.

The woman I am today is the way I imagine myself five years ago and even a little girl. I’ve always imagined myself as happy and successful in doing the thing that I love to do. As a little girl I didn’t know that I would be doing hair but I knew that whatever I was going to do I would be successful and really good at it. I’ve always been a hard worker, a visionary, and a believer that I can do anything I put my mind too.

By the time I was 10, my mother had convinced me that she was the queen and I was the princess. I believed my chocolate skin, my curly hair, my wide hips and big brown eyes made me the most beautiful girl in the world. I love the rich color of my skin and my big beautiful eyes and I love that I am giving, supportive and nurturing, but most importantly I am a woman of faith. My spirit makes me a beautiful woman. Beauty starts from within. If you don’t believe you are beautiful, no one else will. And once you are 100 percent sold out on your beauty there is nothing anyone can say, good or bad, that can change how you feel about yourself.” – Dr. Kari

Find Kari on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and her website.

Dr. Kari Williams photographed by Angel in Los Angeles, California.

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